There was nothing Marco could do about the waiting. Rosa had to be primed to make a statement and have a say in saving her kids. Still, would they hurry it up? Isaias is probably in some kind of mess knowing him.

The clacking of high heels echoed down the hall and Rosa appeared. She was wearing a deep copper dress that wrapped around like a second skin and had mid-thigh slits on the sides. Her hair had been curled and pulled into a simple high ponytail and she wore killer heels strapped to her calves. Her makeup was simple and brought out her chocolate eyes, high cheekbones, and plush lips. Carmelo smiled and walked over to her.

“Now you look the part,” he said, taking her hand that had copper nail posh.

She frowned. “I haven’t dressed like this since...a long time.” Her eyes made contact with Carmelo’s in a silent battle of wills. Neither backed down and Marco felt as if he was missing a great deal and as if he was about to interrupt something far greater than a dress style.

“Um I don’t mean to be rude but shall we go? You know how Isaias is and the last time I saw him he was being dragged back to his cousin who he humiliated beforehand by escaping his hold,” he said, his voice shaking slightly as two intense pairs of eyes stared at him.

Rosa sighed and nodded. “Yes, I do know my son. Let’s go,” she said placing her arm around Carmelo’s and both began walking down the hall. Marco followed them a few steps behind.

“Wait. Marco was it?” asked Rosa.

“Yes?” he answered.

“We have to do something about your blue hair. It’s too distinct and those eyes not to mention you can’t wear the Guerrero uniform if you come with us,” she said tapping a copper fingernail to her lip.

Carmelo stared at Rosa. “What do you suggest?”

She smiled.

Thirty minutes later found Marco sporting short spiked neon red hair and bright blue eyes. The most common style for the middle class. He wore an arachnid uniform and was starting to realize where Isaias got his outspoken nature from. He passed a hand through his hair and sighed. It’s true he needed a haircut but he sure as hell didn’t need a dye job or a new hairdo. The things I do for him. Will he even recognize me now? Will he like this?

At last they were ready to meet Bernado. Carmelo made the comm.

“Don Arrio. There are some things I would like to speak about privately and immediately. No this cannot wait. Yes. I shall come to you. Yes I shall be there soon.” He glanced at Rosa then Marco and nodded. “Let’s go before he changes his mind.”

The drive there was rather long as Carmelo lived on the other side of the island well his base of operations was there. He had a home in Arco Iris which was where they were currently going. Bernado conducted his business in Arco Iris where only the privileged could reach him easily.

“Another failing of his. If his Guerreros needed him for something they’d be humiliated having to wait to be served and the info they hold could be life and death too,” said Rosa shaking her head.

“Only lieutenants are allowed to see him in his office,” said Marco.

“And if there is war?” asked Carmelo. He always put his fighting force first.

Marco shrugged. “I guess we’re screwed?” he said, smirking. “Truth is that while the Guerrero’s are a great fighting force, the one who leads us is a lazy egoist that always put himself first and us last. Our quarters aren’t the worst but they aren’t as good as the arachnids,” said Marco

“The Guerreros don’t have that unified front, that sense of family within and that is their falling,” Said Carmelo as he thought about all the misunderstandings within the Guerreros.

“They are divided by class structure, which has made Isaias’s life really difficult being the only Low there right now. It also isn’t species friendly hence why I lied about being a Traveler and an elemental,” said Marco feeling slightly ashamed of the Guerreros. Only Isaias found out the truth and it would have stayed that way if it hadn’t been for Pablo and this rescue mission. It wasn’t Alejandro, because they would have known my elemental capabilities as well.

Stolen novel; please report.

Carmelo’s Corvette pulled up against the front of the mostly glasshouse and they all got out.

“I wonder what my brother does in hurricane season?” said Rosa as she stepped up to the front door in hand with Carmelo. Marco was a few paces behind hoisting his gun as a good guard would do. According to his uniform, he was Cody Ritter and according to the fake tattoo he wore on his arm of a red spider on a silver web, he was a lieutenant. He bore three stars on his spider. This ink won’t wash off for months! I’ll have to be careful and wear concealer or I could be pegged as a spy. Isaias better be damn grateful I’m doing this!

They were led into the house by a maid and it was obvious that Bernado loved spending his wealth. Posh couches and sofas made up the sitting room along with the most modern Holo V and sound system. A PS 200 was connected to it and the neural cables were a shiny gold inlaid with silver. The neural ports were made of glass. Passing a dining room that could seat twenty people, it was also made of glass with carved chairs and a chandelier on the ceiling. It was another waste of money since no one could sit on a glass chair. They were brought to another part of the house. The walls were cerulean with the painting of a rider astride a half-raised horse, hooves in the air with the proverb For there to be peace there must be war on its underside. The emblem of the Guerreros. Right under it sat Bernado in a bathrobe upon an obsidian desk. It was an insult to Carmelo to appear so disheveled but he said nothing and sat down leading Rosa to a seat next to his.

“What do you want Carmelo? What is so urgent that could not wait till tomorrow?” asked Bernado as he swished a glass of scotch and drank from it. Another sign of disrespect to Carmelo. He crunched ice loudly. Carmelo let him act out before speaking.

“Where are Zen and Isaias, Bernado? We have certifiable information that you have them concealed somewhere,” said Carmelo, staring Bernado in the eyes.

“Zen is my property,” said Bernado sipping his scotch.

Rosa was ready to blow but Carmelo shot her a look and shook his head. She

huffed and crossed her arms glaring.

“Why do you say such a thing of your niece, Bernado? And what about Isaias? Carmelo asked in a soothing tone.

“She has that blasted necklace and as for Isaias? He’s insurance that she’ll do everything we ask,” Bernado laughed.

Rosa snarled and slammed her hands on the obsidian desk. “How dare you treat my children like pawns in your filthy game. They are your flesh and blood. You are their uncle for heaven's sake.”

Bernado squinted. “ Rosa? Is that you?” He leaned backward and drank from his glass. “You should be standing in our presence Brownie.”

“She need not do such a thing, Bernado. She is my chosen Doña and so she need not stand in front of us.”

“You chose our family rival to sleep with, Rosa?” sneered Bernado while Rosa blushed. Carmelo narrowed his eyes and pulled Rosa close to him.

Bernado smirked and leaned so close that the stench of alcohol was all-consuming. Carmelo and Rosa pulled back, “I’ll tell you where Zen and Isaias are if you decide to let this whole arrangement go,” he pointed to the two and smirked.

Rosa was willing to do it. Her happiness for her kids but Carmelo knew something was up.

Mindreader, can you focus on Bernado and see if this is some trap?

I can. Want me to check?

Yes, please

Marco made sure no one was looking before he dove into Bernado’s mind. It was full of color and sound, especially a woman’s laughter and a small girl’s. Pictures flitted by but he was only interested in one thing so he filed them for later use. Right now he was following a coil that led to a darker part of his emotions. My sister is a disgrace to the Arrio name. Her kids are held between here and nowhere. Only the Hormigueros have the real coordinates. Heh. She’ll give up her happiness for those brats and forever remain a Brownie since once negated Carmelo can’t pick her again.

It was enough. Marco got out of the twisted mind of a Don and relayed everything back to Carmelo and Rosa who looked outraged.

“So that’s your game? I thought you’d be happy for me brother,” said Rosa shaking her head and hugging Carmelo.

“I’d be happier if it were someone else. Our rival Rosa? Our freaking rival!”

“He’s not my rival. I’m not an Arrio, remember?”

“How could I forget? You’re the only ones that are Brownies within this family.”

Marco sighed and ignored the bantering siblings. He needed to get to the Hormigueros’s base somehow and use his tricks to find out where Zen and Isaias were kept. It wouldn’t be too hard but he had no idea where the Hormigueros made base. Wait, wouldn’t that be on the map given to all Guerreros at initiation? I need to look at it without drawing attention to myself.

He told Carmelo and the man dismissed him as it seemed that the siblings were deep in their arguments about what made an Arrio. Marco walked to the restroom and slid into a stall. He got out his dimensional pocket and went searching for the map. Not that, not that, when did I put that here? Must have been Isaias. Not that. Oh! Here it is!

He pulled out a small brown dial and fiddled with it before pressing down on it. A 3D map popped up of Puerto Nuevo. His eyes scanned the territories for gangs and finally found the Hormigueros’s home base, a factory deep in the downtown sector near Villa de Marron. A poor gang? Who’d have guessed?

He should have. Isaias used to run it. He wouldn’t have run a ritzy gang like the Valentinos or Callejeros. He sighed. He was going to have a hard conversation with one of Isaias’s colleagues now. He hoped not to make any enemies but if so? So be it.

Isaias and Zen came first. He repocketed the map and left the restroom. Now he had to get by a few Guerreros. He could do that easily.